Use Lent Productively

So, how is Lent going for you so far? I'm doing pretty good . . . but still have a lot of room for improvement. This last week Jay and I had a conversation about being around negative people. It's very easy to be drawn into conversations leading nowhere, commiserating with their experience from lessons learned long ago. It takes actual concentration to turn those conversations around, focusing on the positive. I had a conversation the other morning with a young person. He complained about his job, and how unfair his boss was . . . yada, yada, yada. I have had difficult bosses in the past, so I can understand the frustration. But with age comes wisdom, right? I took my shot at turning his annoyance into empathy by explaining we never know the lives people lead when they are not at work. Some wear their emotions on their sleeve . . . and some hide despair appearing upbeat and happy. He listened and agreed you never know what's behind angry words. Then proceeded to complain some more!  The lesson I left with? I needed to add another virtue to work on during Lent . . . not letting negative talk emerge from my mouth in any way, shape or form. My goal is to use Lent productively by remembering to be more of Him and less of me. 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 16:13-19) Jesus shows us how faith in Him leads to the gates of heaven:

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply,  “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

In the Monthly Message of July 2012, Jesus asks us to faithfully be His messengers on earth:

"Dearest apostles, to make way for your King you will have to fall back from drawing attention to yourself. One falls back, in this instance, by giving constant credit to the One who is fighting the battles and winning the souls.

And the war is for souls, dear apostles. I am craving allegiance from all of God’s children because I am craving what is good for them. Those who are away from Me must see the goodness in you. You are truly offering the best possible message for everyone you encounter. Your message is one of love and welcome and you give the message as the messenger of the King. Be at peace. I am all powerful and you are on the side of heaven.”

Lay apostles, how are you using your time during Lent? There are only 5 weeks left before we celebrate Easter Sunday! Make some changes. Pray more. Read spiritual literature daily. Grow closer to Our Lord.  What better time then Lent?

Thank you, Lord, for helping me focus on the positive when there is so much negative in the world. But especially help me to shine Your Light to change the hearts of those in need.

God bless,

Bonnie